C150002 Approval letter

• Contract/PO #: C150002
• Contractor Name: Grand Valley Water Users' Association
• Contract Type: Grant
• Water District: 0
• Bill Number: SB 97-8
• Loan Projects - Doc Type: Approval Letter

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Colorado Water Conservation Board
Department of Natural ~esources
1 313 Sherman Street
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]

STATE OF COLORl\DO

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Bill Owens
Governor

MEMORANDUM

Greg E. Walcher
Executive Director, DNR

Peter H. Evans
Director, CWCB

DATE:
SUBJECT:

Colorado Water Conservation Board Members
Randy SeaholmpeeY
Chief, Interstate Streams Investigations
March 19, 1999
Agenda Item 21m, March 29-30, 1999, Board Meeting --
Grand Valley Water Management - Status Report

TO:
FROM:

GRAND VALLEY WATER MANAGEMENT
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation released a Draft Environmental Assessment that covers
both the efficiency improvements to the Government Highline Canal and the agreement
to deliver surplus water from the "historic users pool" in Green Mountain Reservoir to the
Grand Valley Power Plant. The Draft Environmental Assessment was released on
December 31, 1997 and the public comment period ran through February 9, 1998. The
. Environmental Assessment is now completed.

FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMP ACT

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation approved a "Finding of No Significant Impact" for the
Grand V alley Water Management Plan on September 11, 1998 and made that document
public on October 5, 1998. This clears the way for construction of the Government
Highline Canal Improvements as soon as contracts for construction can be approved and
the necessary agreements described below completed.

AGREEMENT TO DELIVER SURPLUS WATER IN THE mSTORIC USERS
POOL OF GREEN MOUNTAIN RESERVOIR TO THE GRAND VALLEY
POWER PLANT

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The first formal public negotiating session concerning this agreement was held Thursday,
January 22,1998 at Reclamation's Grand Junction Office. The negotiations involve
Reclamation, the Grand Valley Water Users Association, Orchard Mesa Irrigation
District and the Public Service Company of Colorado. Pursuant to paragraph 5.a of the
Stipulation and Agreement in the Orchard Mesa Check Case, an agreement to deliver
surplus water in the historic users pool of Green Mountain Reservoir to the Grand Valley
Power Plant is required. This agreement is now complete and in the process of being
signed. The 33-year contract term corresponds to the remaining period on the FERC
license for the Orchard Mesa Power Plant.